Tigers win big Saturday night in Moose Jaw

By James Tubb on November 12, 2022.

The Medicine Hat Tigers got back in the win column in a big way Saturday night.

The Tigers scored five unanswered goals to beat the Moose Jaw Warriors 5-1 and snap their seven game losing streak. Medicine Hat came into the game off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Warriors Friday night in the Gas City as the two teams wrapped up a home-and-home series Saturday.

Moose Jaw opened the scoring 2:56 into the game with a power play goal from Brayden Yager, his ninth goal of the season. Jagger Firkus and Atley Calvert had the helpers. After that goal, the game was all Medicine Hat.

The Tigers tied the game up with 2:50 left in the first frame with Brendan Lee’s first goal of the game. Andrew Basha and Josh Van Mulligen had the assists on the goal. They outshot the Warriors 10-7 in the period.

Medicine Hat grabbed the lead early in the second with a goal from Shane Smith 1:11 into the frame, the eventual game winner. Dallon Melin had the assist on Smith’s sixth goal of the year.

A little over seven minutes later the Tigers added to their lead with Lee’s second goal of the game, a shot from the high slot. Rhett Parsons and net minder Beckett Langkow had the assists on Lee’s eighth goal of the season.

Just past the halfway mark of the period the Tigers were on the penalty kill when Brayden Boehm picked up the puck and skated down the ice and fired a puck past Moose Jaw goaltender Connor Ungar for his first short handed goal of the season. His marker chased Ungar from the game, and he was replaced by Jackson Unger between the pipes.

The new goaltender was no match for Boehm who 4:59 later, he once again utilized his speed and came up along the boards and fired a shot past the net minder for his second of the game. Gavin McKenna had the lone assist on Boehm’s seventh marker of the season. Moose Jaw led the period in shots, 12-10.

The third period was an all out shutdown effort by the Tigers who never stopped trying offensively but limited their risky chances to hold the lead. The Warriors once again led in shots 12-7 but it was Medicine Hat who held on for the 5-1 win.

After allowing an early goal in the first, Langkow turned aside 30 shots for his fifth win of the season, bringing his record to 5-7-2-1. Across the ice, Unger made nine saves in his 29:45 of action.

The Tigers (5-9-3-1) have a couple of days off before hosting the Brandon Wheat Kings Wednesday night at Co-op Place.